Lower back pain will be treated with AI

BARCELONA (EFE).— An international research consortium led by Pompeu Fabra University (UPF) in Spain has developed innovative techniques based on artificial intelligence (AI) to identify and treat spinal degeneration, considered one of the main causes of lower back pain.

The project, called Disc4All, began in November 2020 and recently concluded with the support of the European Commission through the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA).

"We create AI and computer simulation tools that allow us to advance clinical diagnosis more accurately," said Jérôme Noailly, head of the Biomechanics and Mechanobiology Department at UPF.

The computational and biomechanical models developed by the team allow for more clear detection of the causes of spinal degeneration and the design of personalized treatments. “It's a bit like when astronomers describe distant phenomena without actually seeing them; they use complex models, and that's what we're doing here,” Noailly explained.

Union of disciplines

The research brought together experts in computer science, biology, biomechanics, and medicine from eight European countries and coordinated 15 doctoral projects. "This exceptional integration of disciplines made it possible to create predictive models tailored to clinical needs," added the project leader.

AI enabled the processing of complex data from medical tests, laboratory trials, and computer simulations. "We were able to identify objective risk factors, as well as psychological and demographic data that may influence lower back pain," Noailly explained.

Among the advances achieved is the identification of potential pain-related biomarkers not previously analyzed clinically. "Intervertebral discs were also mathematically modeled to reflect biological pathological changes," notes the report published on the European Union's Cordis platform.

The goal now is to bring these technologies to the hospital setting. "These models can improve MRI readings and expand clinical information on factors that are difficult to measure using traditional methods," said the Pompeu Fabra University researcher.

Twelve beneficiary institutions and eight partner organizations participated, including the Barcelona Supercomputing Center, King's College London, the University of Sheffield, the University of Liège, and the Rochester Institute of Technology. The collaborating organizations come from Spain, the United Kingdom, Italy, Belgium, Switzerland, Greece, Finland, and the United States.

At a glance

Lower back pain

It is the main condition addressed by the Disc4All consortium using computational predictive models that allow the detection of biomechanical and biological factors involved in vertebral degeneration.

Simulation

The tool developed by European researchers combines artificial intelligence with biomechanics to mathematically represent the deterioration of intervertebral discs and predict clinical risks in patients.

International collaboration

Disc4All brought together scientists, universities, and medical centers from eight countries to develop interdisciplinary solutions using artificial intelligence for the treatment of chronic spinal pain.